How to run small-group training as a personal trainer
Small groups let you earn more per hour while clients pay less. How many people, what to charge, how to structure sessions and fill the places.
7 min read
Small-group training works when the group is small enough to coach each person properly (usually two to six), priced so each client pays less than a 1-to-1 session while your hour earns more, and run at a fixed time with a fixed number of places. Set it up as its own service, open slots with a capacity equal to your group size, and let each person book their own place. Start with one weekly group at a time when you're usually quiet, and add more once it fills.
Why small groups are worth it
One-to-one training has a ceiling: you can only sell so many hours a day, and the price puts some clients off. A small group changes both sides of that equation. For the client, the price per session drops. For you, one hour now pays for three, four or six people. Groups also bring something 1-to-1 sessions don't: people motivate each other, they turn up because they don't want to let the group down, and friends often join together.
What you give up is some individual attention. That's why the size of the group matters so much.
Choose the right size
| Format | Size | Works well for |
|---|---|---|
| Duo | 2 people | Couples, friends, colleagues training together; very close to 1-to-1 coaching |
| Small group | 3 to 4 people | Strength training with technique checks, return after injury |
| Group class | 5 to 6 people | Circuits, conditioning, outdoor bootcamps, mobility |
| Larger class | 8 people or more | Fitness classes rather than personal training; less individual coaching |
Think about what you'll be coaching. Heavy lifting with barbells needs your eyes on everyone, so keep it to three or four. Bodyweight circuits in a park can take six. Also think about the space and equipment: if you have four kettlebells of the right weight, the group can't be seven.
Set a price per person
A simple way to reason: decide what your hour should earn in a group, divide by the number of places, and check that the result is clearly lower than your 1-to-1 price. Clients should feel the group is good value; you should earn more than you would from one person in that hour, even if the group isn't always full.
Price the group as "per person" in the service name or description, so there's no confusion about whether the price is for the whole group. If you run a duo, say whether the price is per person or for the pair.
Structure the session
Small groups run best with a clear, repeatable shape, so everyone knows what's coming and you can spread your attention:
- Warm-up together, the same for everyone.
- Main block with a shared plan but individual loads or variations, adapted to each person's level.
- Finisher or circuit, often in pairs, which keeps energy high.
- Cool-down and a quick word with each person, so everyone leaves feeling coached, not just counted.
Keep a note of each participant's loads and any limitations. Two minutes of reading before the session lets you coach the group as individuals.
Set it up so people can book their own place
Create a service for each group format (for example "Strength small group, per person" or "Outdoor bootcamp, per person") with a description of the level, what to bring and where you meet. Open a slot for each session and set its capacity to the number of places. Each person books one place; when the group is full, the session no longer appears on your page, so you never end up with nine people for six kettlebells.
Repeat the group's slot by day of the week so the timetable is set once for the term. For a duo who always train together, you can book both places yourself from your calendar when they agree a time.
Fill the first group
A new group rarely fills from strangers. Start with the people you already know: 1-to-1 clients who'd train more often at a lower price, former clients who stopped because of cost, and clients' friends or partners. Tell them the day, time and price, and share the booking link. Once three or four people come regularly, they bring others.
Choose a time that suits the group you're aiming at: a mid-morning slot for retirees or parents, a lunchtime slot for people working nearby, an early Saturday for runners.
Keep the group going
Groups thrive on regularity. Keep the same day, time and place for the whole term, start on time even if someone is late, and change the content often enough to keep it interesting. If a group shrinks to one or two regulars, consider merging it with another slot rather than running a half-empty session every week.